Pruning device



Nov. 11, 1941. W AN 2,262,645

PRUNING DEVICE Filed March 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fr'u' ATTORNEY.

Nov. 11, 1941. w. NEWMAN 2,262,645

PHUNING DEVICE Filed March 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y um I N VEN TOR.

.1/%'- ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRUNING DEVICE George W. Newman, Kansas City, Mo. Application March 18, 1940, Serial No. 324,590

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in pruning devices, adapted for pruning branches of trees or shrubs, or for insertion into the ground to sever roots.

My invention relates to the type of pruning devices in which-two jaws are provided with cooperating shearing portions, one of the jaws being mounted upon a suitable support, the other jaw being movable to and from the closed position.

It is well known that when a knife blade is operated by hand to sever a branch or piece of wood, it is much easier to sever the branch if a teetering or rocking motion is imparted to the blade, while the blade is being forced through the wood.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision, in a pruning device of the type described, of novel means by which while the movable jaw is being moved to the closed position, it has also imparted to it a teetering or back and forth rocking movement, similar to the teetering of the knife blade, as above described.

Another object of my invention is the provision of additional novel means for exerting an amplifying leverage in forcing the movable jaw to the closed position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel pruning device, which is composed of relatively few parts, is simple, cheap to make, strong, durable, not likely to get out of order, which is easy to operate, and which is very efficient in its operation.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully set forth and described. I

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of my improved pruning device, the parts being shown in solid lines in the positions occupied by them when the movable jaw is in the fully open position, the parts being shown in dotted lines in their positions when the movable jaw has been advanced toward its closed position.

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly broken away, of the other side of the pruning device, with the parts shown as they are when the jaws are closed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking at one side of the socket portion of the support.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the socket portion disposed at right angles to that occupied by it as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the socket portion.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts as they are positioned when the movable jaw has been moved half way toward the closed position.

Fig. 7 is an elevation view of the parts shown in Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the fixed jaw looking at one side thereof.

Fig. 9 is an edge View of the fixed jaw.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the movable jaw.

Fig. 11 is an edge view of the movable jaw.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

My improved pruning device has a comprising, as shown, a tubular socket portion l in the lower end of which is fastened one end of a handle 2.

In the flattened upper portion 3 of the socket portion I is fastened by bolts 4 the lower end of a fixed jaw 5, having at its upper end an oblique shearing portion 6, which inclines, as shown in Fig. 1, downwardly to the right. The jaw 5 is rectangular in cross section, and is shown indetail in Figs. 8 and 9. y

A movable jaw 1, shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 10, is disposed, as shown in Fig. l, at the right of the fixed jaw 5.- It has in longitudinal alinement with the jaw 5 an offset shearing portion 8, having a cutting edge 9. When the jaw 1 is fully opened and fully closed, as shown respectively in solid lines in Fig. 1, and in Fig. 2, the cutting edge 9 is parallel with the shearing portion 6 of the fixed jaw 5. The object to be severed by the jaws is disposed between them,

-. when the jaw 1 is in the fully open position, as

shown in solid lines in Fig. 1.

I on which it may be moved from. the fully open position to the closed position, said means while moving the jaw 1 toward th closed position imparting to the jaw also a teetering movement by which the jaw, while moving toward the closed position; rocks back and forth on the article that is being severed, thus greatly aiding in the severing of the article, in the same manner as does teetering a knife blade when it is used to sever a branch.

Such mechanical means, in the specific form shown and described, comprises the following described parts.

A member, comprising a lever I0, is bifurcated at one end, the two arms I l of which bifurcation embrace between them the lower end of the jaw 1 and the jaw 5 to which the two arms II are pivoted respectively on two axes by two bolts l2.

supporttached to itan operating cable l4.

Two members l2, comprising two parallel links, at opposite sides respectively of the jaw l, are pivoted to the jaw I and the jaw 5, between the lever arms II and the cutting edge 9, on two axes comprising two bolts 19. 5

The distance between the axes I3 is greater than the distance between the axes I2 of the lever arms II. By means of this arrangement, when th outer end of the lever I 0 is swung downwardly, the jaw 1 will be moved downwardly. l0 and have imparted to it a teeteringmovement, in which the cutting edge 9 will, while moving .to the closed position, rock in one direction against the object that is being severed, until the cutting edge 9 reaches the middle position,

as shown in Fig. 6. It will then rockin the-other I direction until the cutting edge 9 contacts with, the shearing portion 6, at which time it willbeagain parallel therewith. j

This teetering movement of the cutting edge 9'against the object will enable the cutting edge. 9 to easily sever the object.

For swinging the lever l9 downwardly, to *close, the jaw I, the outer end of the" lever has-at-j For moving the jaw 1 to the open position,j

'shown in Fig. 1, means are provided, which, as.

shown as a specific embodiment in Figs. 1; 6 and 7, consistsof'a'wire spring l5-coiled around a. bolt 16 having athreaded portion fitted in a threaded'hole l-Tin the jaw 5. The bolt I6 extends through the jaw'5' and has'fitted on it a lock nut I8, at the side ofthe jaw 5' opposite to the side at which is dispos'e'dthe spring 'l5p One end of thespring I 5*is extended/through a hole l9 in the head of the bolt IS. The other end portion of the spring l5 bears against the underside of the adjacent link i 2, the'tension of the spring being such as will yieldingly resist the closing movement of the jaw 1, and will 40 move the jaw! to the closed position, when the lever I0 is permitted to'swing upwardly. The

tension of the spring I5 may be varied by proper rotary adjustment of the bolt 16.

V In the operation of my improved pruning device, the object to be severed is disposed between the jaws 5 and 1, while the jawsare open, as shown in solid lines in Fig. l; The cable 14 is then. pulled downwardly, thus swinging downwardly the lever H], which draws downwardly the jaw 1..

While the jaw 1 is moving to themiddle position, shownin Fig. 6', the difference in distance between theaxes I3 of the links I2 and that between the axes I2 of the lever arms H, will cause the cutting edge 9 of the jaw If to have imparted to it a teetering movementin one direction, as will be observed by the different angles 3 between the cutting edge 9 and the shearing portion fiof'the jaw 5, in Fig. 6.

. Continued closing movement of the jaw 1, from the middle position, shown in Fig. 6, to the closed position, shown in Fig. 2, will cause the'cutting.

1 edge 9 to rock in the opposite direction until the 1 cutting edge 9 impinges against the shearing portion 6," at which time the cutting edge 9' and j the shearing portion 6 will again be parallel with 1 each'other, as in'the fully open position, shown in solid lines in Fig. 1'.

Upon releasing the cable M, the spring 15 will 1 swing the parts back to the fully open position. 1 By having the. cutting edge 9' of the movable jaw 7 'disposedabove the fixed. jaw '55, when the handle has its outer end up,.tlie cutting edge will be r drawn downwardly against the upper side of the branch to be cut, and the weight of the branch By having the lever Ill-l I pivoted to the jaw 5 below the link l2, the lever can have greater length, and, therefore, a greater leverage without having it interfere with the engagement of the upper cutting jaw 1; with the-branch to be cut, than would be the case, were the lever pivoted to the jaw 5 above the place of pivoting of the link [2' to the jaw 5.

said support, the other jaw being movable to and from the closed position, a lever pivoted on two axes to said jaws respectively for moving 5 said movablejaw to said closed position, am'ember pivoted on two axesto said-jaws respectively between said lever and the shearingportion of said movable jaw; the'distance'between'the axes of saidmember being greater than the distance between the axes of said lever, and resilient means for moving said movable jaw to the open position. I v 1 2. Ina pruning device, a supportytwo jaws having cooperating shearing portions; one jaw being fixed to said support, the'other jaw having its shearing portion provided with a cutting edge,

a lever pivoted on two'axesto said jaws for moving said movable'jaw to the; closed position when swung in one direction, meansfor so'swinging said lever, a member pivoted to said two' jaws on two axes respectively intermediate of said lever and'said cutting edge, the distance between the axes of said member being greater than the distance between the axes of said lever, and resilient means for moving said movable jaw to the open position. 1 g g r 3. In a pruning device, a'handle, a fixed lower jaw fastened to the outer end of said handle, and adapted, when the outer end of the handle is up, to bear against the under side of a'branch to be cut, a movable upper jaw having a' cutting edge above said lower'jawand adapted to bear against the upper side of the branch, when said handle is so positioned, a link-pivoted respectively on two axes to said jaws, and a lever'pivoted respectively to said two jaws on twoaxes, the distance between the axes of said link being different from the'distancebetween the axes of said lever.

4. In a pruning device, a'handle, a fixed lower jaw fastened to the outer'end' of said handle, and adapted, when the outer end of the handle is up, to bear against the under side of a branch to be cut, a movable upper'jaw having a cutting edge above said lower jaw and adapted to bear against the upper side of the branch, when said handle is so positioned, a link pivotedrespectively on two axes to said jaws, and a lever pivoted respectively to said jaws on two axes disposed below the first named. axes, the 'distancebetween the axes of said link being different from the distance between the axes of said'lever.

GEORGE W. NEWMAN. 

